ABSTRACT
American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) was investigated in dogs from an urban endemic area in Cianorte, Paraná state, Brazil. Of 169 studied dogs, none presented suspected ACL lesions. Eleven animals (6.6 percent) had anti-Leishmania braziliensis antibodies (titers > 40) detected by the immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) while four (2.4 percent) showed L. braziliensis-complex DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Although no associations were found between IFAT or PCR results and age, sex, origin, free-roaming animals or length of residence at the address, the majority of IFAT- or PCR-positive dogs were from the urban area of the city and were allowed to roam freely beyond their neighborhood. The presence of anti-Leishmania braziliensis antibodies and L. braziliensis-complex DNA in dogs from this urban area near a native-forest park indicates the importance of following up on these dogs to confirm the ACL diagnosis.
Subject(s)
Animals , Dogs , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Urban Area , Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct/methodsABSTRACT
No Estado do Paraná, a primeira notificação de leishmaniose tegumentar americana ocorreu em 1917 e a partir de 1980 observou-se um aumento do número de casos, mantendo-se endêmica e acometendo pessoas de todas as faixas etárias e em ambos os sexos. Este estudo teve como objetivo realizar um levantamento epidemiológico sobre a ocorrência de LTA em pacientes atendidos no Laboratório de Ensino e Pesquisa em Análises Clínicas da Universidade Estadual de Maringá (LEPAC/UEM). Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo e descritivo em base de dados secundário de 1986 a 2005, com 1656 pacientes segundo as variáveis: sexo, idade, ocupação, procedência, local de moradia, forma clínica e diagnóstico. A maioria dos pacientes era do sexo masculino (72,6%) e adquiriu a infecção no Estado do Paraná (97,8%), residia em área urbana (64,3%) dos quais 51,3% adquiriu a infecção durante atividades de lazer. O diagnóstico da maioria dos pacientes foi estabelecido nos dois primeiros meses de evolução das lesões (54,0%) e apresentando a forma cutânea da doença (88,9%). Uma parcela (34,4%) significativa dos pacientes que residiam em área rural adquiriu a infecção no domicílio ou peridomicílio. O estudo mostra a predominância da forma cutânea da leishmaniose tegumentar americana e sugere a atividade de lazer e o ambiente do domicilio como fatores preditivos importantes para a infecção.
The first notification of American cutaneous Leishmaniasis (LTA) in the state of Paraná, Brazil, occurred in 1917 and an increasing number of cases has been reported since 1980. This parasitic skin disease, spread by the bite of infected sandflies, is still an endemic problem, with recurrence in both sexes and in all age groups. The objective of this study was to perform a survey on the occurrence of American cutaneous Leishmaniasis in patients attended at the Teaching and Research Clinical Analysis laboratory at the State University of Maringá (LEPAC/UEM). A retrospective and descriptive study was carried out, based on secondary data (1986-2005) on 1656 patients, relating to their sex, age and occupation and the origin, clinical forms and positive diagnosis of the disease. Most of the patients were male (72.6%), lived in the urban area (64.3%) and acquired the infection during outdoor leisure activities (51.3%) in the State of Paraná (97.8%). The cutaneous form of the infection predominated (88.9%) and the diagnosis was made in the first two months of development of the lesions (54.0%). A significant part (34.4%) of the patients who lived in the rural area acquired the infection inside or close to their homes. The study shows the predominance of the cutaneous form of American cutaneous Leishmaniasis and suggests that leisure activity and housing conditions could be useful predictive factors for the infection.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Infant , Child , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Estudaram-se 92 cães errantes com o objetivo de comparar a imunofluorescência indireta (IFI) e a aglutinação direta (AD) na investigação da leishmaniose tegumentar americana (LTA) canina, no período de outubro de 1999 a novembro de 2001. Os animais foram examinados quanto à presença de lesões e submetidos à intradermorreação de Montenegro (IDRM) e à pesquisa de anticorpos anti-Leishmania por IFI e AD. A IFI apresentou sensibilidade de 78,9 por cento e especificidade de 93,8 por cento (título >40), e a AD sensibilidade de 57,9 por cento e especificidade de 68,8 por cento (título >80). Dois cães apresentavam lesão, mas a pesquisa do parasito foi negativa. A IDRM, realizada em 89 cães, foi positiva em três (3,4 por cento). Trinta e quatro cães (37,0 por cento) foram positivos para a IFI, 61 (66,3 por cento) para a AD e 69 (75,0 por cento) para a IFI e/ou a AD. Dos cães com a IFI positiva, sete eram de Floresta, 13 de Maringá, 12 de Leópolis, um de São Jorge do Ivaí e um (50,0 por cento) de Campo Mourão. Os resultados sugerem o contato prévio desses animais com o parasito.
Ninety-two stray dogs were studied in order to compare indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and direct agglutination (DA) in the investigation of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL), from October 1999 to November 2001. The dogs were evaluated for the presence of lesions, and submitted to the Montenegro skin test (MST) and the search for anti-Leishmania antibodies by IIF and DA. IIF showed 78.9 percent sensitivity and 93.8 percent specificity (titers >40), and DA presented 57.9 percent sensitivity and 68.8 percent specificity (titers >80). In two dogs there were lesions, but the parasite was not detected. The MST was positive in 3 (3.4 percent) out of 89 dogs. Thirty-four (37.0 percent) dogs showed anti-Leishmania antibodies through IIF, 61 (66.3 percent) through DA, and 69 (75.0 percent) through IIF and/or DA. Of the dogs with positive IIF, 7 came from the municipal areas of Floresta, 13 of Maringá, 12 of Leópolis, 1 of São Jorge do Ivaí and 1 (50.0 percent) of Campo Mourão. These data suggest previous contact of these animals with the parasite.